Five Home Renovations That Could Give You a Return on Investment

Renovating an entire home can cost hundreds of thousands. Instead of doing so, many households are turning to only renovating certain parts of their home.

Whether they might be renovating to sell, or looking to grow their property’s long-term value, there are certain areas of the home where attention should be drawn to. This is because renovating these areas could help to provide a much greater return on investment.

Firstly, it is important to address any underlying issues that the property may already have, such as mould. These issues should be prioritised before any cosmetic changes are to be made. This is because sorting these out can help to prevent the property from losing any value.

Kitchens and Bathrooms

Renovating both kitchens and bathrooms could help to make a noticeable impact upon potential buyers and valuers.

While entirely updating either can be costly, there are ways to update them without spending too much. For instance, updating the cabinets with a new paint or finish, and handles and knobs can freshen up the kitchen without the need to remove and replace existing tiles for instance.

If the budget can extend, it may be worth considering knocking down any walls surrounding the kitchen to allow for a more open plan layout.

When it comes to bathrooms, little changes can be made which can make a big difference. This could include replacing only chipped or damaged tiles and changing the taps and showerhead. These can help to create a new feel, without making any drastic changes such as plumbing.

Many people consider their bathroom as a kind of personal “retreat” from the world, so little changes you can make to encourage this could make a big difference. Replacing chipped tiles, replacing outdated vanities, and changing the taps and showerhead can all contribute to creating a new look and feel, without needing to make big changes to plumbing and the like.

The Garden

The front garden, or porch, is the first thing that prospective buyers will see when viewing your property. As such, it is important to utilise this area to make a good impression. Updates could include clearing up the path, replacing the driveway paving or the front door. Further and less costly updates could include hanging flower baskets outside the front door and planting colourful flowers, as well as freshening up the exterior paint.

Often, low maintenance gardens are appealing to prospective homeowners who may have limited gardening knowledge or experience so this is also something to consider.

Increasing Natural Light in the Home

Lighting is key in changing how someone might view a property.

Depending on factors such as structure and layout, adding or expanding windows or skylights to introduce more natural light could contribute towards increasing the value of a property.

A cheaper option could also be to strategically place mirrors to make the space feel bigger and brighter.

Increasing Storage Space

Providing prospective homeowners or new tenants with additional space to store their belongings can really help to increase the appeal, and thus value, of a property.

Ways of doing so could include adding in built-in wardrobes, or a walk-in storage room. Additionally, improving a garage’s capacity for storage space can also make a big difference too.

New Paint

A fresh coat of paint can freshen up any space and increase its appeal. This is also a relatively low-cost renovation option and can even be done without seeking a professional painter.

It is thus certainly worth researching which paint colours are the most popular at the moment, as this will help to make the property appear more modern.

How Can a New Renovation be Financed?

Often, many may dip into their savings to fund any renovations to their property. Alternatively, there are a number of finance routes that can be pursued. These include the following:

  • Refinancing a mortgage
  • Applying for a construction loan
  • Withdrawing money from a mortgage offset account
  • Taking out a personal loan
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How to maximise your chances of getting a mortgage

Getting a mortgage is no easy endeavour. House prices are consistently increasing with the average UK house price now sitting at more than £270,000. Rises in house prices markedly outpace wage increases. This makes it much harder for mortgage applicants to gain acceptance among lenders. Despite these roadblocks there are actions you can take to maximise your chances of getting a mortgage.

Save For a Larger Deposit

The easiest way to enhance your probability of being accepted for a mortgage is to save for a larger deposit. The larger you deposit, the more ownership you will have of the house relative to the loan amount. If the property price is £280,000 and you put down £70,000 as your deposit, you will require a mortgage of £210,000. In this example the loan to value of the property would be the mortgage amount divided by the purchase price. That would result in an LTV of 75%.

With a lower loan to value more mortgages at better rates will be available to you. The reason for this is because as a borrower you present less risk to the lender. The more money you have in the house, the more there is for the lender to recover should repayments not be made.

Pay Off Debts & Don’t Apply for Any New Credit 

Pay off any debts you have in full as quickly as possible. Set up a realistic plan to pay back any debts you have before making an application. Mortgage providers are ultimately most concerned with a borrower’s ability to service their mortgage payments. If you have existing debt you will need to make monthly payments, reducing the amount of disposable income available to pay your mortgage. Anything you do to decrease outgoing and increase disposable income helps your mortgage application.

Taking out any new additional loans before applying for a mortgage will hinder your chances of a successful application. The new debt you’ve acquired will be recorded on your credit line. This is a big red flag to prospective lenders who will check any outstanding credit you have via credit rating agencies. Thinking of getting new furniture on credit? Considering a new finance hire agreement for a new car? Think again. These likely unnecessary purchases will adversely impact your ability to get accepted for a mortgage.

Check Your Credit Rating & Make Sure You’re on the Electoral Register?

Every Lender will check your credit rating via a credit rating agency such as Experian or Equifax. Before applying for a mortgage it’s imperative you check your score. Being aware of your score and knowing how to improve it will help maximise your chance of mortgage acceptance.

Credit agencies are aware of your entire credit history as well as current loan amounts outstanding.  Late payments and defaults adversely affect the score. Your payment history impacts 35% of your entire credit score. Even one late payment can lower your score. We’d advise setting up direct debits to ensure all debts are serviced in a timely manner to avoid this.

Credit usage has the next largest impact on your credit score at 30%. This is how much you spend on revolving credit e.g. credit cards relative to your total credit limit. It shows how reliant you are on available credit for regular spending. Lenders will want to see you aren’t overly reliant on available credit and your score will be penalised for excessive usage. To be safe ensure you spend less than 25% of your available credit usage.

Credit history length makes up 15% of your credit score. Generally the longer your credit history the higher your credit score provided you’ve paid debts on time and not defaulted. We advise building up a credit history for multiple years ahead of applying for a mortgage. Credit mix makes up the final component of your credit score at 10%. Generally a more diverse credit mix is favoured by lenders.

When applying for a mortgage you will need proof of residency. One easy way to do this is to ensure you are registered on the electoral register. This validates you have a permanent residence and often increases your credit score.

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6 Useful Gadgets For The Home Of The Future – Available Today

Six Household Gadgets That Will Make Your Home Feel Sci-Fi 

1. An Electric Lighter

What’s the big deal? You may wonder. Electric lighters have existed for decades!

True, but those lighters still ran on gas, and it was only the spark that was electric. The new SUPRUS USB-powered electric lighter, however, doesn’t rely on gas, or even a flame. Instead, it creates a super-heated plasma charge at its tip using electricity. This may sound dangerous, but the SUPRUS lighter has a treble-lock safety mechanism, designed to keep the user safe from accidental use, and has passed CE, RoHS, and UL safety tests and certification.

This handy electric lighter is further windproof and can be easily recharged via USB, making it perfect for everyday household tasks like lighting candles, stoves, barbeques, and log fires, etc.

2. A Digital Herb Grower

The AeroGarden Harvest is a small and portable countertop digital herb-growing device, that uses a full spectrum 20-watt LED light system to amazingly grow herbs up to 5 times faster, and without the need for soil. Looking much like an ordinary pot of herbs at first glance, the AeroGarden Harvest is a self-regulating mini-grow room, and a brilliant addition to anyone’s kitchen.

Not only does it provide continuous herbs for the kitchen in a simple and hygienic manner, but it also looks great as decoration.

3. An Air Fryer

Once steam was the big thing in healthy cooking, but these days kitchens can get an upgrade. Introducing the Instant Vortex Plus 6-in-1 Air Fryer, which does exactly what its name implies, it literally fries food with heated air, and with brilliant results.

Now you can make restaurant-quality fried foods at home, and in the healthiest way possible. Whether meat or vegetables, the Instant Vortex Plus can also roast, broil, bake, reheat, and dehydrate food.

4. A Smart Power Strip

Always wanted to control your lights with your phone? The Smart Power Strip by Teckin makes it super simple and easy by connecting your device and lights via a simple Wi-Fi application. It’s as easy as playing at Black Lotus no deposit casino. At a very affordable price, the Smart Power Strip further provides surge protection, and can even act as a sort of alarm system by notifying the homeowner if someone turns on the lights when they’re not at home.

5. A Robot Mop

You’ve seen them in sci-fi movies since the eighties, and there have been a few attempts over since then at commercialising them, but now you can have your very own, highly affordable, iRobot Braava Jet 240 Robot Mop. This little gizmo will happily mop up the dirt and stains, get to those hard-to-reach places under cupboards, keep your home smelling fresh and clean, and all by itself while you get busy with other important things.

6. A Sensor Mirror

The simplehuman 8” Round Sensor Makeup Mirror has a sensor that illuminates the mirror and viewer in a pleasant natural light as you approach. It also has a distortion-free 5x magnification reflective surface, touch control for brightness level, and an led bulb that is guaranteed to last virtually forever. Furthermore, it’s cordless, making it a very handy, clutter-free household item.

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When You Should Consider Hiring a Lawn Care Service

Whether you are new to homeownership or you have owned your home for decades, you may be considering doing some work on your outdoor space. However, lawn care requires more than mowing and watering, and you may feel overwhelmed with all the work involved. These are examples of times you should consider hiring a lawn care service.

You Need a Landscape

Whether you have no landscaping or you just need to refresh your landscape, you may consider a professional lawn installation North Shore. A professional understands what will make your home look the best and can balance that with what your family needs. They also dig all the holes, add topsoil and do the planting, all the work that isn’t so fun. These individuals understand the plants that will grow best in your area.

You Need Lawn Maintenance

After you receive your lawn installation services, it needs to be maintained. Depending on your landscaping, your maintenance could be time-consuming and the equipment necessary may be expensive. Therefore, you should determine whether you have the time, equipment and knowledge necessary to maintain your lawn and landscape. In addition, consider what you want to do with your time, e.g., spend more quality time with your family, travel or enjoy local events.

Consider calculating your hourly wage and multiplying it by the time you will spend in your yard. Don’t forget the time you need to spend picking up supplies and the equipment maintenance, such as yearly tune-ups or blade sharpening, and fuel. Also, calculate the cost of equipment, fertilisers and herbicides. Then, compare this amount to the weekly or monthly cost of working with a lawn care service.

You Have Problem With Your Lawn

At some point after your lawn installation Northern Beaches, your landscape may experience an invasion of pests or other diseases on your plants. When you have a regular lawn care service, these professionals can diagnose a problem early, before it kills your plants. They also know the exact method for taking care of these problems. For example, if your landscape is overcome with weeds, a lawn service can identify the weed type and find the herbicide that will work best to get rid of it.

If you can find and treat a problem lawn early, your lawn will receive less damage and can recover more quickly. Services can also help you with your issues, such as mosquitos, fleas and ticks. Some plants naturally repel these insects, and your lawn care provider can regularly spray for pests.

You Need Tree Care

Trees and shrubs need special care. Trees need yearly pruning to improve their growth and prevent falling branches. Shrubs need pruning to remove uneven branches and improve their shape and appearance while opening up their middles so they can breathe. Fruit trees need additional care to improve their production. Many trees and shrubs are also susceptible to diseases and insect infestations, so regular care can catch these problems early. These plants also need regular fertilisation. These plants are costly, making them a long-term commitment, and you don’t want to lose them due to improper care.

You Need Irrigation

In addition to your lawn installation services, you may consider irrigation installation. If you aren’t a plumber, you may have difficulty installing irrigation. Regular watering improves the health of your landscape, and proper irrigation goes a long way to keeping your plants healthy. These professionals understand the best locations for each sprinkler, what type of irrigation is best for each plant and how to set your system up so that all your plants get the water they need.

These individuals understand state and local laws and your homeowner’s association rules. They also understand and can perform regular checks and maintenance to quickly identify leaks and keep your sprinkler system working properly.

You Are Concerned About Safety

Landscaping care can be dangerous. Lawnmowers and weed whackers can pick up and throw debris, which can damage your home and hurt your family. Also, you and your family should avoid some landscaping chemicals, and a professional will know which ones to spray that won’t harm you or can warn you if a toxic chemical is used.

If your home, vehicle or lawn is damaged, professional lawn installation services have liability insurance to protect you financially. Also, if they are hurt while completing your lawn services, they are covered.

You can have an outdoor space that is just as enjoyable and useful as your indoor space, and when your landscape looks great, your home looks great.

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3 Tips When Your Home is Your Office

Whether you have been working from home for years or this is something new to you, the goal is to be productive.

That said do you feel like working from home is in fact working out for you?

In the event you need to make improvements on your home working situation, it would be wise to review things.

So, what is working and not working for you when your home is your workplace?

Finding Success from Your Home Office

In working out of your home, here are three tips to make things work out better for you:

  1. Make organization a priority – You won’t find much success working at home if organization is an issue. With that in mind, take a look at your setup to see how organized it is. Can you find the items you need on a regular basis to get the job done? This can be not only technology items you need but also paperwork. Having your papers organized is critical to success. The last thing you want to do is having to oftentimes search for missing documents and more. Come up with a system that works for you and allows you to find what you need without any hassle.
  2. Make room to operate – If your home workspace is congested, odds are you could find it hard to get work done. Take a look around to see if you need to make more space for yourself. For example, is your desk always seemingly cluttered? If it is, now would be a good time to do some reorganizing. If you use headphones to talk to clients, do videoconferencing and more, a headphone stand is key. This not only frees up some space on your desk, it will better protect the equipment. Also look at making sure you have space for clients if they come to your home. Along with being organized, you want to be sure clients feel safe and secure in your workplace. If they do not, it could lead to some of them refusing to do business with you moving ahead.
  3. Make the schedule work for you – Some people get the notion that individuals working from home are on a call 24/7. Since you are likely not a doctor where you may well be on call, come up with the right schedule for your needs. Overdoing it can lead to making mistakes; have a negative impact on your health and so on. The key is to work in moderation and know when you need your breaks. When not having to report to an office, warehouse or be out on the road on a regular basis, you have more flexibility. Come up with the schedule that your body and mind adapt to. That schedule still makes you quite productive when all is said and done.

When it comes to working from home, consider it one of the perks of life.

Yes, while you may miss having others around at times, you may in fact be more productive. That is not having all the typical workplace distractions and so on.

So, is working from home working out for you?

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Fireplace Screen Ideas For Your Home

Having an open fireplace at home is a wonderful addition which can make a room feel cozy, warm and comfortable. If you do have an open fire then there are some accessories which you simply cannot do without. Fireplace tools for example are absolutely critical to making sure that you can tend to the fire and give it the TLC it needs to keep on roaring. Another key component here is having a fireplace screen which looks the business, and there is a wide range of screens which you can find that will really add some style to your fireplace. 

Benefits of a Screen 

Have a great fireplace screen is both functional and stylish. Ultimately without a screen you run the risk of hot ash and embers shooting from the fire, back into the room. This of course presents quite the health hazard. Beyond this however fireplace screens are also a great style option and there are many cool choices which you can take a look at.

Fireplace Screen With Glass Doors

Buying a fireplace screen with glass doors can be a welcome addition to your living room and offer a stylish and highly functional option. These fireplace screens make the fire glow through the glass and when it comes to tending to the fire you can do that with ease. The doors will not block the heat, so you will still have a nice warm fire by which you can relax. 

Artistic Screens 

Previously fireplace screens would be very simple offerings which did the job, but thanks to some very smart and creative people within the metal working world, there are some truly beautiful screens which you can now find. These cast iron screens come in all manner of designs and they often like to play with the gaps in the screens in a way which really delivers. Make sure that you don’t get too swept away by the designs of the screens, as they can often block the view of the fire from different angles. Style is nice, but function should always come first. 

Mesh Screens 

Some people simply don’t want to block up the fireplace with thick, iron screens, and so they prefer a much easier and more flexible option which is a mesh screen. These screens in particular are very low cost, they do a great job in making sure that the ash and the soot doesn’t come into the room, and they are light and easy to move around. The only downside with these screens is that they do take quite a bit of cleaning if you let the ash and soot build up. 

These are just some of the options which you have in front of you when you decide to invest in new fireplace screens. Always remember that function comes first, it doesn’t matter how fancy or fitting your fireplace screen looks if it doesn’t protect your home from the debris which comes out of your open fireplace.

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What Changes Would You Like to Make at Home?

If the notion of making some changes at home appeals to you, any train of thought to what such changes may be?

From your living space to how you live at home, you may well feel now is the time to make things different.

With that in mind, are you ready to roll up your sleeves and get to work on them?

Don’t Be Afraid of Change

In your quest to change things at home, here are a few possibilities you may want to consider moving forward:

  1. A new job – How happy are you in your current job? If the answer is not all that happy, is now the time to do something about it? You may be in a position in life where change in your career is both necessary and doable. If so, see what is out there waiting for you. Even as scary as a job change can be at times, you want to be happy in your line of work. Dreading going to work each day can be one of the worst feelings to have.
  2. Your current relationship – If in a relationship with someone, how is it going? This can be another area of your life where change in fact may be needed. Although it can be difficult to move on for a variety of reasons, think about your current situation. Would a change be best for both your physical and mental well-being? If yes, how hard would it be to find such change? 
  3. New look to your home – Has it been a while since you did any notable changes to your home? If you haven’t done anything in a while, now might be the time to push forward with some renovations. Changing things up can breathe new life into your home. If worried about potential costs involved, take the time to find affordable renovations. This may mean doing some or much of the work on your own if you are handy around the home with such things. In breathing life into a home, it can be painting, new floors, exterior sliding glass doors and more. In the event you like the doors option, take time to go online and see what is out there. Having some new doors can bring the outside world more into focus in your home. That is especially appealing if you have been missing out on some great views.
  4. Bringing a pet home – Finally, any thoughts to bringing a pet into your life? If you said yes, make sure to think things over first. Pets are often great additions to a home. That said you want to be sure you have the time and patience to be a pet owner. Your pet be it a dog, cat or other form of animal life will more times than not give you unconditional love. It is important for you to make sure they feel the love in return.

When you are thinking of changes at home for your world, adding accents of new materials to your home, like brass rods or steel angle framing, can breathe some new life into it.

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The Best Guide for a Living Room Makeover!

Decorating your home is a wonderful idea. Sometimes, changing up your space can make a huge difference in your mood and productivity levels. One of the best ways to change up your living space is by revamping your living room. It is the best room to start your  journey. A fresh coat of paint or a new Coffee Table can make a huge difference in the overall look of your living room. Think about it, your living room is that room of the house where you spend the most amount of time. It is that room where you spend quality time alone or with your loved ones. The living room is the first room your guests see when they enter your condo or bungalow.

Living room decoration hacks

The living room sets the entire vibe of your place. When you invite your friends, acquaintances or relatives to your place, the first room they see is the living room. Therefore, it is important to create a good first impression of the living room. Here are some good hacks to decorate your living room: 

  • Make a list of what you don’t like: This is a great way to start redecorating your living room. The best way to start a makeover is by making a list of the things that you don’t like. For instance, if you feel like you want to change the color of the walls and ceiling of your living room, add that to your list of things you don’t like about your living room. If you don’t like your current sofa set, then start your revamping process by looking at new Sofa Designs. This is a great way to start. 
  • Fix a budget: After you’ve made a list of things you don’t like, start fixing your budget. Finances are an important part of the home decor process. Have a clear idea of how much money you can afford to spend. This will help the shopping process easier. 
  • Make a list of things you have to buy: after you’ve decided on your budget and the things that you don’t like, make a list of things you do like. As in, make a list of new things you want to add to your living room. For instance, if you have a big living room and you want to fill up an empty space, you can consider adding a Coffee Table to your living room. Coffee tables are a great addition to a living space. This is because they are multi-purpose. You can use one for many things. You can have your meals at your coffee table, you can use it for studying, working, etc. 
  • Small decor items: After you’ve selected the color scheme and the main furniture pieces of your bedroom, focus on the smaller details. This will add the personalized touch to your living room. These items include flower vases, photo frames, mood lighting, cute coasters, etc. 

Now you know how to start decking up your house. Start sprucing up your living room and make it super cozy and welcoming!

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10 Things You Ought to Know Before Getting Yourself a Mortgage

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Photo by CC user Deovolenti on Flickr.

Before you start to approach local banks and other financial institutions with the aim of obtaining a mortgage to buy a new home, there are a few facts that you need to know. Borrowing such a large sum of money without doing some research first is not a good idea as you will be entering into a binding contract that lasts for many years. With this in mind, below is a list of 10 things you really ought to know before you apply for your first mortgage, which should stand you in good stead when you get in touch with local lenders.

10 Things You Should Know Before Applying for a Home Loan

Make a note of the following ten points, or bookmark this page so that you can refer to it whenever you want.

1. Your Credit Score – Your credit score and history will dictate the rate of interest you are likely to be charged on a mortgage so the first thing you need it know is what kind of score you currently have.

2. Your Budget – What a bank or mortgage broker thinks you can afford and what you can really afford are often two completely different things. Go through your budget carefully to make sure you do not overextend yourself.

3. Your Partner – This may sound like an odd one but if you are getting a joint mortgage, you need to be absolutely sure that your partner is 100% reliable.

4. Your Building Company – If you are paying a Perth builder to create a beautiful new home for you, take the time to get to know how they work before you sign on the dotted line. If you click here, you can get a good idea of what reputable firms have to offer.

5. Possible Benefits – Depending on where you are in the country and the current regulations, there may well be certain government schemes for which you are eligible, which could help to defray the cost of your new home.

6. Your Location – The location of your new home will have a major influence on its future value so research this particular factor very thoroughly.

7. Your Future Plans – Given the long-term nature of mortgages and the fact it may take some time before you can sell your new home for a profit, you need to consider your future plans carefully.

8. Your Lender – Although it is tempting to make all the arrangements online, you should visit the bank from which you are going to borrow, to make sure you are happy with their terms and conditions.

9. The Fees – Virtually all Mortgage Providers charge application fees, and there may be other costs involved in dealing with them too. Make sure you are aware of them all up front.

10. The Real Value – Pay for an independent valuation of the house you wish to buy.

There are other things you should know but the list above will get you off to a great start when applying for home loans in Western Australia and elsewhere.

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Tips on Planning a House Extension

As life moves on so to does your housing requirements and when the time comes that you decide you need more space in the home you have several options in front of you. Sometimes it can be as simple as knocking down a wall in the home to create a larger room, sometimes you may need to opt to move house in order to have the space that you want and sometimes you should be considering an extension on your home in order to give your house the extra room that it needs. I recently extended my home to add 3 new rooms and with the expert help of Jon Bunge and his team, the extension looks perfect and achieved the results that I wanted. If you have been thinking about extending your home then here are some tips to help your planning process.

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Ensure That You Have a Tight Budget

In order to decide on any parts of the extension you need to already have in place the amount of money that you are going to spend on your extension. It is important that you consider how much money you have to spend on the extension rather than working on how much money you will need to find for the extension that you want. There are many different construction and planning costs involved and you need to be fully prepared to pay what you can for this as opposed for looking at a carte-blanche style approach to extending your home which can leave you in debt or financial difficulties.

Talk With Your Neighbors

It is important that during this time you have a strong relationship with your neighbors as you are going to need their support and patience. Not only will they have something new to look at when they stare out of the window (your extension could block their view,) but also there will be a lot of upheaval in your street as construction vehicles come and go and building materials adorn the street. Get your neighbors on board and create an open dialogue with them so that if any problems should arise, they can talk to you directly.

Make Sure That All Planning Has Been Passed

I’ve heard some terrible stories over the years of those who invested in their extension, got their construction team in place, made down payments on supplies and then failed to get their planning passed by local government. To avoid making such financial errors as these it is vital that you seek to get all aspects of your planning permission passed long before you part with any money. There is nothing wrong with having your construction team in place and a list of the exact materials that you will need for your extension whilst your planning application is being submitted. There is a huge difference however between being prepared for your extension in this way, and actually starting it before it has all been approved.

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